Everything about Zhang Xingcheng totally explained
Zhang Xingcheng (張行成) (
587-
October 10,
653),
courtesy name Deli (德立), formally
Duke Ding of Beiping (北平定公), was a
chancellor of the
Chinese dynasty
Tang Dynasty, during the reigns of
Emperor Taizong and
Emperor Gaozong.
Background
Zhang Xingcheng was born in
587, during the reign of
Emperor Wen of Sui. He was from Ding Province (定州, roughly modern
Baoding,
Hebei), and in his youth, he studied under a man named Liu Xuan (劉炫). Liu was impressed with his studiousness, and told his other students, "Mr. Zhang does what is proper, and he's material to be an imperial official later." Toward the end of the reign of Emperor Wen's son
Emperor Yang, Zhang was recommended by the officials of his home commandery, and he was made a reserve assistant to the imperial surveyor. After Emperor Yang was killed at Jiangdu (江都, in modern
Yangzhou,
Jiangsu), in
618 in a coup led by the general
Yuwen Huaji, the Sui officials at the eastern capital
Luoyang supported Emperor Yang's grandson
Yang Tong the Prince of Yue as emperor, but the official
Wang Shichong seized the throne in
619, ending Sui and establishing his own state of Zheng. Wang made Zhang his minister of census.
During Emperor Gaozu's and Taizong's reigns
In
621, Wang's Zheng state was destroyed by
Tang Dynasty forces. As Zhang had been a Sui official before, he was made the sheriff of Gushou County (穀熟, in modern
Shangqiu,
Henan). Later, after he passed an imperial examination, he was made the secretary general of Fuping County (富平, in modern
Weinan,
Shaanxi), and was considered capable in his position. After his term of office was over, he was made an assistant imperial censor, and was known for willing to submit accusations against other officials for misbehavior notwithstanding their honorable positions. Tang's second emperor
Emperor Taizong, the reigning emperor at the time, was impressed by him, and stated to his
chancellor Fang Xuanling, "In both history and current times, officials often came into their offices due to recommendations by others. But I selected Zhang Xincheng myself, without anyone else's recommendations." On one occasion, possibly in
627, when Emperor Taizong, at an imperial feast, began to talk about differences between people from the
Guanzhong region and those from the Shandong region (for example, those from east of modern
Sanmenxia,
Henan, not those from modern
Shandong), Zhang found the talk to be inappropriate, and stated, "Your subject has heard that the
Son of Heaven should view the entire empire as his home, and shouldn't divide it through geographical limitations; if you do so, you'll show prejudice." Emperor Taizong was impressed, and awarded Zhang a horse, a set of clothing, and money. He also began to consult Zhang on important matters and promoted Zhang to the post of imperial attendant. In
641, Emperor Taizong, at an imperial gathering, made the comment, "Although I'm the lord of the empire, but I also often have to serve as general and chancellor." After Zhang withdrew from Emperor Taizong's presence, he submitted a note indicating his belief that the comment was inappropriate -- noting that it sounded like he was arguing over achievements with his subjects. Emperor Taizong approved of his comment.
By
643, when Emperor Taizong deposed his oldest son and
crown prince Li Chengqian (over Li Chengqian's plotting to overthrow him) and replaced Li Chengqian with
Li Zhi, Zhang was the assistant minister of justice. Emperor Taizong, when selecting staff members for Li Zhi, selected Zhang as an assistant head of the crown prince's household. In
645, during Emperor Taizong's campaign against
Goguryeo, Emperor Taizong left Li Zhi at Zhang's home Ding Prefecture, to be in charge of logistics, assisted by a number of officials led by the chancellor
Gao Shilian, and Zhang was a member of Li Zhi's staff there. Li Zhi told Zhang, "This gives you a chance to return home in honor." Li Zhi also gave Zhang supplies to allow him to worship his ancestors, and Zhang took this opportunity to recommend a number of scholars from his home, and while Li Zhi rejected making them officials (on the account that they were too old in age), he gave them rewards. After Emperor Taizong returned to the capital
Chang'an after the Goguryeo campaign, he'd Zhang serve as surveyor of the
Henan region, and after that tour made him the acting assistant head of the executive bureau of government.
In
646, Emperor Taizong, in the aftermaths of the collapse of Tang's one-time vassal and adversary
Xueyantuo to the north, went to the important northern defense prefecture of Ling Prefecture (靈州, roughly modern
Yinchuan,
Ningxia), to try to affirm the faith of the former vassals of Xueyantuo, who were by now directly Tang vassals. Initially, he was taking Li Zhi with him, but Zhang submitted a petition stating that this would better serve as an opportunity for Li Zhi to serve as
regent at Chang'an, so that he could become familiar with imperial governance. Emperor Taizong agreed, and rewarded Zhang by giving him the honorific title of
Yinqing Guanglu Daifu (銀青光祿大夫).
During Emperor Gaozong's reign
In
649, Emperor Taizong became ill and died at the summer palace Cuiwei Palace (翠微宮), after entrusting Li Zhi to two chancellors, Li Zhi's uncle
Zhangsun Wuji and
Chu Suiliang. Keeping the news of Emperor Taizong's death secret, Zhangsun and Chu accompanied Li Zhi and Emperor Taizong's casket back to Chang'an and, after carrying out a number of official commissions, including commissioning Zhang Xingcheng as
Shizhong (侍中) -- the head of the examination bureau and a post considered one for a chancellor -- announced Emperor Taizong's death. With Zhang and fellow chancellor
Gao Jifu physically assisting him, Li Zhi took the throne (as Emperor Gaozong). He created Zhang the Duke of Beiping and made him one of the officials in charge of editing imperial history.
In
651, Zhang was made a head of the executive bureau, also considered a post for a chancellor, although he also carried a secondary title as
de facto chancellor. In
652, when Emperor Gaozong created his oldest son
Li Zhong crown prince, Zhang received the additional title as an advisor to the crown prince. He died in
653. After Emperor Gaozong's death in
684, Zhang was one of the officials enshrined into Emperor Gaozong's temple.
Notes and references
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